Exploring improvement in Hurricanes’ defense. And UM personnel nuggets
A six-pack of Miami Hurricanes notes on a Monday heading into Saturday night’s home game against the Gators (7:30 p.m., ABC):
▪ The most encouraging part of the first three games, besides the 3-0 record?
The much-improved defense, which has been every bit as vital as Carson Beck’s outstanding play.
Consider how new coordinator Corey Hetherman’s defense, through three games, ranks compared with Lance Guidry’s 2024 defense:
1). Points relinquished per game. Even with games against two top 25 teams (Notre Dame, USF) as well as an FCS school (Bethune Cookman), UM is permitting just 13 points per game, which ranks 28th nationally in FBS. Last season, Miami allowed 25.3 points per game, which ranked 68th.
This appears to be a byproduct of better personnel; Rueben Bain’s rebound from last season’s sophomore slump; and Hetherman’s schemes.
2). Yards relinquished per game. There’s a big improvement there, from 327 last season to 279 this season (37th in the country).
3). Yards yielded per play. That has improved from 5.3 last season to 4.7 this season.
4). Yards yielded per carry. That has improved from 3.7 in 2024 to 2.6 this season, which is 16th in the country.
That speaks to the solid defensive line play (led by Bain, Akheem Mesidor, David Blay Jr., Justin Scott and Ahmad Moten; good work at linebacker from Mohamed Toure and Wesley Bissainthe; and two new defensive backs who are skilled run defenders – safety Jakobe Thomas and cornerback Keionte Scott. (New cornerback Ethan O’Connor had a tackle for loss against USF).
“We’re starting to run to the ball better,” Hetherman said Monday.
5). Passing yards permitted per game. The improvement has been modest statistically, from 214.4 per game last season to 204 this season. But this is a much better secondary, particularly at cornerback.
6). Takeaways per game. That’s up from 1.3 to 2.0, with safety Bryce Fitzgerald already accounting for two interceptions despite being on campus just four months.
Mario Cristobal said Monday that what Hetherman does schematically “fits our personnel.”
Hetherman said “communication in general, we want it to be better than it was” Saturday. He said his unit still needs to improve “limiting explosive” plays.
▪ Second-year tight end Elija Lofton hasn’t been targeted much in three games and has only four catches for 36 yards.
“They’ve been playing good football; still a lot of areas they can improve on,” Cristobal said of the tight ends. “They’re a huge part of our offense and will continue to be going forward.”
Offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson said that against USF, “there were five or six plays where [tight ends] were the first read. They’re in every pass concept. The ball is getting spread around a lot. It will find those guys.”
The sense internally was that Lofton might blossom this season. It still might happen. But he has been less a part of the passing game than expected.
▪ Among all FBS running backs, Mark Fletcher is ninth in average yards after contact, at 4.12. That’s a testament to how well and how hard he’s running.
“His energy, his heart, his spirit, his leadership is awesome,” Cristobal said. “Mark Fletcher is a special young man... come a long way.”
▪ Dawson said freshman receiver Joshua Moore, who caught two touchdowns on Saturday, flashed this kind of ability throughout August practices.
“He showed signs early on he can really stretch the field,” Dawson said. “He has the length and radius to really make an impact.”
▪ Quick stuff part 1: For Saturday’s 49-12 win against USF, Pro Football Focus rated Moore and Fletcher Jr. as Miami’s top two players on offense, and identified Bain and Mesidor as Miami’s top two players on defense….
UM’s offensive line allowed no sacks and only three pressures (two against Matthew McCoy, one versus Anez Cooper)...
PFF rated Samson Okunlola as Miami’s best run blocker against USF.
▪ Quick stuff part 2: PFF said Moten was Miami’s best run defender on Saturday…
Against USF, Mesidor had five quarterback pressures and a sack; Bain had four pressures; Armondo Blount had three pressures and a sack; and Booker Pickett had a sack…
Miami’s starting cornerbacks allowed just two combined completions: OJ Frederique permitted one of four targets against him to be caught, but that one went for 53 yards. Xavier Lucas permitted one of two targets to be caught for five yards.. Starting nickel corner Scott allowed two for three for 19 yards…
As for the starting safeties, Thomas wasn’t targeted and Zechariah Poyser allowed two completions on four targets for 45 yards… PFF blamed safety safety Dylan Day on USF’s TD pass....
ABC assigned lead team Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit to Saturday’s UM-UF game at 7:30 p.m. on ABC.
This story was originally published September 15, 2025 at 4:47 PM.
